In my dream of returning to the Tang Dynasty, I snatched Wu Zetian from my lap.

"Besides, so many ministers are watching. I'm giving you face, but what about the other ministers?"

Li Shimin clearly did not want to grant a pardon.

Li Yuanchang was about to continue pleading for leniency.

At this moment, Gao Yang suddenly came up with a bowl of tea.

"Father, please calm down and have some tea first."

Li Shimin's expression softened slightly, and he accepted the tea.

Then Gao Yang came up behind Li Shimin and started massaging his shoulders and back.

"Father, how was my sculpting?"

"Very good, very good," Li Shimin said with a smile, quite pleased.

At this moment, Gao Yang suddenly lowered his head: "Father, how about you grant me one request?"

"It's just a small matter."

Li Shimin smiled and asked, "What is it?"

"Father, please promise me first!" Gao Yang pleaded, her sweet and obedient nature as powerful as a nuclear bomb.

This is also the core reason why many mature women in later generations could not compete with sweet girls.

"Alright, alright, I agree, I agree." Li Shimin patted her hand.

"Go ahead and say it."

Princess Gaoyang glanced at Li Yuanchang, then smiled slyly: "Father, please pardon General Kou."

Li Shimin was taken aback.

Li Yuanchang was also taken aback.

No one expected Gao Yang to bring this up.

"Gaoyang, as a princess who has been married off, you are not allowed to interfere in matters of the court!" Li Shimin said with a stern face, but he was clearly not really unhappy.

"Oh dear, Father!"

"Look, even Seventh Uncle came all the way to the palace to plead with you. Are you really that heartless?"

"Gaoyang!" Li Shimin emphasized.

Gao Yang tried her best to be cute: "Father Emperor~"

"Your subject has never asked you for anything before, please grant your request this once."

"From now on, I will come to the palace every day to keep you company and help you pass the time."

Please.

Her voice was so sweet it could turn any man into a "placenta".

Even a great emperor like Li Shimin couldn't bring himself to refuse such a gentle approach and the image of a well-behaved daughter.

At this moment, seeing that Li Shimin was showing signs of wavering, Gao Yang immediately gave Li Yuanchang a look.

Li Yuanchang snapped to attention, quickly realizing what was happening, and quickly added, "Your Majesty, please show leniency. I promise this will never happen again!"

Li Shimin's eyes wavered.

"Father, look, Seventh Uncle is begging you, please grant his request."

"Otherwise, Gao Yang will ignore Father Emperor!" Gao Yang urged, trying to help.

Li Shimin took a deep breath and finally let go.

"Fine, since Gao Yang has also pleaded for you, I can't be the heartless one."

"Kou Zhu can be spared imprisonment."

"But!" he changed his tone, "he demoted him to a commoner."

Li Yuanchang's expression changed slightly. This was a complete demotion, and according to the unspoken rules of the Tang Dynasty, once someone was demoted to a commoner, there was basically no chance of being promoted again.

This is equivalent to a criminal record.

However, Kou Zhu came from a military family and was already the head of the Lantian Zhechong Prefecture before he met Li Yuanchang. He had been through countless battles, and it was a real pity that he was demoted to a commoner.

"Brother!"

He couldn't help but speak up, thinking that he could at least retain some of his official position.

"King of Han, know when to stop!" Li Shimin said.

Li Yuanchang was startled!

He was addressed as the King of Han, no longer as the seventh brother.

He sensed a warning in Li Shimin's tone. Ever since Li Chengqian's rebellion and the questioning, he felt that Li Shimin had become suspicious.

Is this considered a warning?

Gao Yang, though seemingly mischievous, was actually quite clever. Seeing this, he immediately smoothed things over with a smile, saying, "Seventh Uncle, why don't you quickly express your gratitude?"

"You owe your father a great debt of gratitude; you must serve His Majesty well from now on."

Li Yuanchang came to his senses. Although it was a bit of a pity, at least the person had been rescued.

He glanced at Gao Yang gratefully, never expecting that she had inadvertently helped him so much.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I will certainly take this as a warning and use it to discipline my subordinates!"

Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction, and then had someone issue an edict to release Kou Zhu, but dismiss him from his post and demote him to a commoner.

About half an hour later, a minister requested an audience, and Li Shimin left the Imperial Garden.

Li Yuanchang and Gao Yang took their leave together.

On the main road leading to the palace.

Once there were few people around, Li Yuanchang clasped his hands in a fist salute, his eyes earnest: "Princess Gaoyang, thank you!"

Gao Yang chuckled and said, "Seventh Uncle, you flatter me."

It was just a small favor.

"Even if I don't plead for you, Father will definitely give you face, after all, you are an important minister of the country."

Li Yuanchang gave a wry smile.

It's really not.

If Gao Yang hadn't pleaded for him today, he estimated that Li Shimin wouldn't have given in.

"In any case, I will keep this matter in mind."

Upon hearing this, Gao Yang beamed with joy, put her hands behind her back, and smiled sweetly, like a delicate flower.

"Then Uncle Qi must keep his word."

Li Yuanchang's expression was strange, and he subconsciously took half a step back. He always felt that getting too close to Gao Yang could easily lead to an accidental conflict.

Anyone can accidentally go off the gun, but not this one!

"I keep my word."

"Great!" Gao Yang said with a smile.

The two walked together on the palace avenue.

"By the way, Seventh Uncle, why did you let that young monk leave Chang'an?" Gao Yang took the initiative to start a conversation, turning his head with a hint of curiosity.

Li Yuanchang's eyes turned cold: "He contacted you?"

"No, it was Master Daoyue of Dazongchi Temple who wrote a letter to Gaoyang, saying that His Highness ordered him to leave Chang'an and never return."

"This monk is the beloved disciple of Master Daoyue, who has met your father twice and is a highly respected monk in Chang'an. Therefore, we want to plead for the young monk to stay," Gao Yang explained.

Li Yuanchang asked, "What did the princess say in response?"

"Gao Yang didn't interfere. Since Uncle Qi told him to leave, Gao Yang certainly wouldn't stop him." Gao Yang gave him a warm smile.

Li Yuanchang breathed a sigh of relief.

"This monk's six senses are impure, so he was allowed to travel around."

"If this monk appears in the future, Princess, do not approach him; simply inform me."

He was serious; he sensed that Gao Yang and Li Chengqian were different.

Gao Yang may have a bit of a temper and look down on Fang Yi'ai, but she's not a bad person at heart. There's still hope for her. As long as she doesn't run into Bianji, nothing else will happen.

Princess Gaoyang nodded: "Alright."

"Gao Yang will listen to his seventh uncle."

"Seventh Uncle, it's still early to leave the palace. Could you let Gao Yang come along and play with you?" She changed the subject, her eyes revealing anticipation.

"what?"

Li Yuanchang was in an awkward position, unsure whether to agree or refuse.

"It's getting late, Princess. Why don't you go back now? Tomorrow, I'll have the Princess Consort invite you to the Han Prince's residence."

After this incident, he developed some affection for Gao Yang, but still wanted to keep his distance.

To everyone's surprise, Gao Yang's pretty face immediately fell, and she looked down at her toes, revealing her unhappiness.

"I don't want to go back!"

"Why?" Li Yuanchang asked.

Gao Yang didn't treat him like an outsider and said directly, "I don't like Fang Yi'ai, and I hate this marriage."

"But I can't resist it."

"My father seems to love me, but I don't even dare to say anything about this."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.